Former Wasps star Lawrence Dallaglio says the club’s move to Coventry is ‘fantastic’ and has called on fans to support it.

Dallaglio, who won two European Championships and five Premiership titles with Wasps, says the move had to happen for Wasps to stay competitive, and that true fans will follow their team to the midlands.

The former No 8 says he understands the controversy behind the move, but thinks that it is needed for the club to stay in the top flight.

Coventry City Football Club have only recently returned to the Ricoh Arena after a year away

‘It’s a fantastic move for lots and lots of different reasons,’ Dallaglio told Sportsmail. ‘The club has never been able to invest in the business and the team, in the way that it will be able to now.’

‘The Wasps we’ve known and loved over the last 15-20 years has not been able to thrive in the professional era.

‘They can’t offer the most competitive salaries, they haven’t had the state of the art training facilities that they need, they haven’t had a stadium that they feel really is their home.

‘What this move has done is look to rectify that.’

Many fans have expressed their dismay at the decision to move the club further from London, but Dallaglio says they will see it is for the best.

Wasps' James Haskell, Dai Young and Andy Goode during the announcement of a new stadium and sponsor

Dai Young (right) speaks to press during the announcement of Land Rover as the new club sponsors

‘The Wasps supporters I’ve spoken to, want to continue to be able to support Wasps as a Premiership team,’ he continued. ‘Without this move that situation would have been at serious risk.

‘As a player who was part of a team that spent 15, 20 years, getting Wasps to the top, I don’t want to see them drop down in the lower leagues.’

‘If you’re a true supporter you get out and support your team wherever they are, and I’ll certainly be going up to Coventry when I get the opportunity.’

Lawrence Dallaglio is a pundit for BT Sport’s coverage of the European Rugby Champions Cup. The European Rugby Champions Cup kicks off on 17th October at 7:45pm with Harlequins v Castres Olympique, exclusively live on BT Sport. BT Sport is the only place to watch top live matches from the new European Rugby Champions Cup, European Rugby Challenge Cup and the Aviva Premiership.